Motions Dynamics Recorder

Abstract

A motion dynamics recorder is provided, including a controller; a sensor array in communication with the controller, and configured for measuring at least one characteristic of the motion of a vehicle and/or its systems and environment; a memory module slot for receiving a removable, local memory module; and an optional, distal crash resistant case containing a remote memory module; wherein the controller is configured to generate data from the measurements and to write the data to the removable, local memory module, when the removable memory module is inserted in the slot, and/or the optional remote memory module.

1 . A motion dynamics recorder, comprising:
 a controller;   a sensor array in communication with the controller, and configured for measuring at least one characteristic of the motion of a vehicle; and   a memory module slot for receiving a removable local memory module;   wherein the controller is configured to generate data from the measurements and to write the data to a removable memory module, when the removable memory module is inserted in the slot.   
   
   
       2 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor array is further configured for measuring at least one characteristic of the environment of the vehicle. 
   
   
       3 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a local housing for supporting the sensor array, the controller and the local memory module;   a remote housing located distal to the local housing; and   a remote memory module disposed in the remote housing and in communication with the controller;   wherein the controller is configured to write at least some or all of the data to the local memory module and at least some or all of the data to the remote memory module.   
   
   
       4 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the memory module slot is further configured to receive a setup module containing setup data, and the controller is configured to read the setup data and reconfigure at least one operation of the motion dynamics recorder according to the setup data. 
   
   
       5 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 3 , wherein the remote housing is a crash resistant case. 
   
   
       6 . The motion recorder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the memory module is readable by a computing unit having user interface software; and   the user interface software grants or denies access to data in the module to a user, according to an access permission scheme.   
   
   
       7 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 6 , wherein:
 each memory module is individually assignable to a combination of users, the users comprising at least an owner and optionally an instructor, and/or an operator; the user data comprising:
 owner data containing a name and password: 
 optionally, instructor data containing a name and password; 
 optionally, operator data containing a name and password; and 
   the access permission scheme based on the user data such that:
 an operator using the computing unit's user interface software is granted access only to logs that carry that operator's data, providing the operator has provided the proper password to the user interface; 
 an instructor using the computing unit's user interface software is granted access only to logs that carry that instructor's data, either as instructor or operator, providing the instructor has provided the proper password to the user interface; and 
 an owner using the computing unit's user interface software is granted access to all logs, providing the owner has provided the proper password to the user interface. 
   
   
   
       8 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , further comprising a port for connecting to an audio and/or visual display device, wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to output at least some of the data to the audio and/or visual display device in real-time. 
   
   
       9 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to stream the data to an external device while the motion dynamics recorder is performing one or more of the following operations: measuring motion, generating data, and writing data to the memory module. 
   
   
       10 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 9 , further configured to stream data to the external device while the motion dynamics recorder measures and generates data;
 wherein the motion dynamics recorder streams data to the external device, with or without the local memory module inserted into the slot; and   wherein motion dynamics recorder streams data to the external device, with or without the remote memory module in communication with the recorder.   
   
   
       11 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to operate within a vehicle comprising a switched power bus and an unswitched power bus, and the motion dynamics recorder further comprises two power sources, the two power sources comprising:
 a switched power input connectable to the vehicle's switched power bus; and   a backup power input connectable to a charge storage device connected to the vehicle's unswitched power bus;   wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to draw power from the backup input when power from the switched power input is turned off while the motion dynamics recorder has open logs receiving data.   
   
   
       12 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 11 , wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to automatically shut down when the vehicle main power is off, except the motion dynamics recorder is configured to remain on and draw power from the backup power input if the motion dynamics recorder is in the process of writing data to open logs on one or more memory modules and to shut off the backup power and shut down the motion dynamics recorder when the motion dynamics recorder closes the last open log. 
   
   
       13 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to generate motion tracking data, the sensor array of the motion dynamics recorder further comprising:
 an inertial tracking module for tracking the vehicle's motion using the laws of inertia; and   a satellite based tracking module for tracking the vehicle's motion using a satellite positioning system.   
   
   
       14 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 13 , wherein the tracking data comprises:
 an inertial motion track based on a measurement from the inertial tracking module; and   a satellite based motion track based on a measurement from the satellite based tracking module;   wherein the two motion tracks are weighted with weighting factors and combined into a single combined data track;   wherein the weighting factor for the inertial motion track increases as the satellite based component becomes less accurate than the inertial motion track, and the weight factor for the satellite based component increases as the inertial motion track becomes less accurate than the satellite based motion track.   
   
   
       15 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises:
 a set of low range accelerometers with high resolution for taking acceleration measurements along at least one of the vehicle's axes when the acceleration of the vehicle along the axis is below a specific threshold; and   a set of high range accelerometers with low resolution for taking acceleration measurements along at least one of the vehicle's three axes when the acceleration of the vehicle along the axis is over the threshold.   
   
   
       16 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 15 , wherein each set of accelerometers comprises three accelerometers for taking acceleration measurements along the vehicle's three axes, each accelerometer operating independently of the others. 
   
   
       17 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the data is written at a variable data logging rate. 
   
   
       18 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 17 , wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to:
 increase the data logging rate when the motion dynamics recorder senses that the vehicle is maneuvering, to provide data which describes the vehicle's motion at a greater resolution; and   decrease the data logging rate when the motion dynamics recorder senses that the vehicle is not maneuvering, for conserving storage space on the local memory module.   
   
   
       19 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the local memory module is hot swappable with other memory modules during operation of the motion dynamics recorder. 
   
   
       20 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 1 , wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to write the data to a single file on the memory module, wherein the file occupies the total storage capacity of the memory module. 
   
   
       21 . The motion dynamics recorder of  claim 20 , wherein the motion dynamics recorder is configured to write the data to the file on the memory module in a serial manner, wherein the data is organized in a serial manner and returns from the end of the file to the beginning in a cyclical manner with individual motion logs juxtaposed and contiguously arranged. 
   
   
       22 . A system for recording vehicle data logs and associating vehicle data logs with one or more personnel operating the vehicle, comprising:
 one or more local memory modules, each configured with user identification data indicative of personnel in the vehicle and/or owning the vehicle; and   a vehicle data recorder, comprising a memory module slot configured to receive at least one local memory module;   wherein the vehicle data recorder is configured to write and store a log containing vehicle data to the memory modules; and   wherein the system is configured to copy the user identification data from local memory module to the log, thereby identifying individual logs with the users of the vehicle.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a first housing for supporting the vehicle data recorder and a local memory module;   a remote housing located distal to the first housing; and   a remote memory module disposed in the remote housing and in communication with the vehicle data recorder;   wherein the system is configured to copy the user identification data from the local memory module to both the local and remote logs, and the system is configured to copy user identification data from the remote memory module to both the local and remote logs, thereby identifying individual logs to users of the vehicle.   
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the local memory module is assignable to a combination of users, the combination comprising one vehicle owner, optionally an instructor, and optionally an operator, by means of a specific password for each user;
 the operator is provided with an operator password, which allows the operator to access logs which contain the operator's identification data;   the instructor is provided an instructor password, which allows the instructor to access logs which contain the instructor's identification data; and   the owner is provided with an owner password, which allows the owner to access all logs.